2015 July - Pro Football Rumors

Chris Cooley Unlikely To Sign Before Camp

July 27th, 2015 at 6:24pm CST by Zachary Links

Former Washington tight end Chris Cooley remains realistic about his possible comeback, but he says that he doesn’t anticipate a team signing him before training camp, John Keim of ESPN.com writes.

“I’m not holding out hope,” said Cooley, who last played in the 2012 season.

Interestingly, even though he spent his entire nine season career in Washington, he is prohibited by NFL rules from signing with them for the 2015 season. Teams are prohibited from signing a player in the same year that it’s already paying for a different service. In addition to his daily radio show, Cooley serves as an analyst on Washington games. Cooley confirmed that he did have discussions with the Cardinals, but they no longer have a need after they signed Jermaine Gresham.

“I will absolutely continue to work out,” Cooley said. “And look towards realistically a later date in someone’s camp after an injury were to occur or even into the season, which I would be fine with. It would probably have to be a team that realistically has a chance of winning this year. Teams that don’t have a chance of winning don’t sign 33-year-old tight ends.”

Cooley was just 30 when he decided to walk away from his NFL career and start a new one in sports radio. Cooley was cut by Washington in training camp in 2012 but was brought back during the playoffs when Fred Davis went down with an injury. That offseason, Cooley was leery of playing for anyone but Washington and he intimated that his asking price was higher than the offers he was receiving from other teams.

The tight end wound up signing a radio deal, though the contract included an out in case a football opportunity emerged. Two NFL assistant coaches, including Jay Gruden who was with the Bengals at the time, informed him of their interest only to be told that Cooley was done. Given Gruden’s previous fondness of Cooley and the tight end’s deep connections to Washington, one can’t help but wonder if there could be a connection in D.C.

In nine seasons with Washington, Cooley hauled in a total of 429 receptions – the all-time high for any tight end in franchise history – 4,711 yards, and 33 touchdowns. The veteran made his first Pro Bowl appearance in 2007, catching 66 balls for 786 yards and 8 touchdowns. He followed that up in 2008 with another Pro Bowl appearance thanks to his 83 catches, 849 yards, and one touchdown. In both campaigns, Cooley started in all 16 regular season contests.

Cooley will presumably be open to all opportunities but he says that he’s not expecting a call from the Falcons. According to Cooley, offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan kept Cooley off the field in 2012 because he believed that he had nothing left in the tank.

Rams, Janoris Jenkins Talking Extension

July 27th, 2015 at 4:09pm CST by Zachary Links

The Rams and Janoris Jenkins are engaged in discussions regarding a contract extension, according to Rand Getlin of NFL.com (on Twitter). Jenkins and his representatives would like to get a deal done with the Rams by the time the season starts, Getlin adds (link).

There’s optimism that a deal could happen between now and Week 1. If that doesn’t take place, then Jenkins would likely play out the season and re-visit his contract in January (link).

Jenkins, 26 (27 in October), has played in 45 games with 43 starts across the last three seasons for the Rams. Last season, Jenkins racked up 59 total tackles with five pass deflections, two interceptions, and two touchdowns. Jenkins also returned nine punts, taking them back for a total of 46 yards.

Last season, the advanced stats at Pro Football Focus (subscription required) cast Jenkins as a slightly below average cornerback. Jenkins’ overall score of -1.5 placed Jenkins as the No. 50 corner out of 108 eligible players. PFF has never been a fan of Jenkins over the course of his three year career., ranking him No. 61 in 2013 and No. 101 in his rookie year.

Buccaneers Re-Sign Da’Quan Bowers

July 27th, 2015 at 4:02pm CST by Luke Adams

After spending several months on the free agent market, defensive end Da’Quan Bowers is returning to the team with whom he spent the first four years of his NFL career. The Buccaneers have re-signed Bowers to a one-year contract, the team announced today in a press release.

The 51st overall pick in the 2011 draft, Bowers played 50 games for the Buccaneers from 2011 to 2014, compiling just 66 total tackles and seven total sacks. The 25-year-old, a Clemson product, never developed into the sort of productive defensive player the Bucs were hoping for, starting just 10 of those 50 games with the club.

While terms of his new deal weren’t disclosed, Bowers will likely be earning the minimum salary, and probably didn’t receive any guarantees, so he’ll have to compete for a roster spot and for playing time. If he makes the regular-season roster, Bowers figures to be a depth piece on the defensive line.

Earlier in the offseason, Bowers reportedly met with the Saints and drew interest from the Lions and Dolphins.

Saints Release Junior Galette

July 27th, 2015 at 3:52pm CST by Luke Adams

MONDAY, 3:52pm: After passing a physical earlier today, Galette has officially been released by the Saints, who also signed tight end Kevin Brock and guard Cole Manhart, waiving center Mike Brewster with an injury designation (Twitter link via Evan Woodbery of the New Orleans Times-Picayune).

According to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, the team waited as long as possible to cut Galette in the hopes that the NFL would take action that would allow the Saints to potentially recoup some of the signing bonus money they owed him.

FRIDAY, 1:50pm: Galette must take – and pass – a physical with the Saints before he’s officially released, tweets Adam Schefter of ESPN.com, adding that the physical will likely happen this weekend.

1:24pm: In a surprising roster move, the Saints are releasing pass rusher Junior Galette before their training camp gets underway, reports Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter).

While Galette has provided plenty of value to the Saints on the field over the last two years, recording back-to-back seasons of double-digit sacks, his off-field behavior cost him his job. The former undrafted free agent was arrested on a domestic charge in January, and a report last month indicated that a video has surfaced of a man who appeared to be Galette using force against a woman in a beach brawl.

With Galette making the wrong sort of headlines, and New Orleans’ roster undergoing a significant offseason overhaul, it came as no surprise when winter reports suggested head coach Sean Payton and the Saints wouldn’t have been opposed to moving on from the pass rusher if they could find a taker. However, given the off-field red flags, and the significant chunk of guaranteed money still owed to him, it was equally unsurprising that the Saints were ultimately forced to bite the bullet and simply cut him.

Galette, who turned 27 in March, just signed a lucrative four-year extension with the Saints last September, and has already received more than $17MM in salary and bonus money from the team since then. Having converted Galette’s $12.5MM roster bonus to a signing bonus earlier this year, New Orleans will now have to eat a tremendous amount of dead money to make the 27-year-old go away.

Based on contract information provided by Over the Cap, Galette’s $5.45MM cap hit for 2015 figures to remain unchanged, with the remainder of his prorated bonus money accelerating to the 2016 league year — based on my math, Galette will count for $12.1MM against New Orleans’ ’16 cap.

While Galette will hit the free agent market, that won’t stop the NFL from looking into his off-field behavior and potentially handing out a suspension, which will adversely affect his chances of landing with a new team. Depending on the language of Galette’s contract, I’d also expect the Saints to make an effort to get back some of the bonus money they’ve paid him over the last 12 months.

Galette’s odds of signing with a new team figure to be negatively impacted by his health as well — he’s said to be recovering from a pectoral injury, and won’t go under the knife to repair the damage.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

WR Rumors: Hilton, Jones, Green, Hunter

July 27th, 2015 at 3:48pm CST by Luke Adams

Earlier today, Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com reported that some executives around the league believe that the price tag on Andrew Luck‘s eventual extension could make it tricky for the Colts to commit $12MM or so annually to T.Y. Hilton as well. According to Jason Cole of Bleacher Report (video link), however, the team is currently engaged in extension discussions with the wideout.

Agent Drew Rosenhaus told Cole that the Colts and Hilton are unlikely to reach any sort of agreement before training camp begins, but Cole appears confident that the two sides could work something out within the next several weeks. He also adds that Hilton is expected to seek upwards of $14MM annually on a new deal.

Hilton is a very productive player, but he’s not the sort of prototypical No. 1 receiver that guys like Dez Bryant and Demaryius Thomas are, so I’d be pretty shocked if the Colts inked him to an extension in that neighborhood. If the two sides do get something done before the season begins, something closer to Randall Cobb‘s four-year, $40MM pact makes more sense to me.

Here are a few more notes on wide receivers from around the league:

Those Bryant and Thomas contracts figure to have more of an impact on A.J. Green and Julio Jones. According to Cole (video link), the Bengals‘ and Falcons‘ stars will look to exceed the $14MM average salaries landed by Bryant and Thomas, and get something in the neighborhood of $15MM per year. Both Green and Jones have missed time with injuries, but that’s not expected to be a huge roadblock in either contract negotiation, says Cole.
Justin Hunter‘s arrest is currently “under review” by the NFL, writes Terry McCormick of 247Sports.com. It will likely be some time before the NFL announces any discipline for the Titans receiver, who was charged with felonious assault for allegedly breaking a man’s jaw in a bar fight.
In search of some wide receiver depth, the Jets worked out former second-round pick Greg Little, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter). Little, who played three seasons for the Browns, spent most of last season with Cincinnati.

NFC Notes: Peterson, Panthers, Levy, Dez

July 27th, 2015 at 3:06pm CST by Luke Adams

A couple reports this offseason suggested that Adrian Peterson was at least briefly contemplating retirement, but it doesn’t sound like the Vikings running back is leaning toward leaving the game anytime soon. Speaking to Peter King of TheMMQB.com, Peterson said he feels like he can continue playing until he’s “36 or 37 years old — and at a high level.”

Here’s more from around the NFC:

The Panthers have finalized contract extensions for a number of key players this offseason, including quarterback Cam Newton, linebacker Thomas Davis, and tight end Greg Olsen. Linebacker Luke Kuechly appears to be next in line for a new deal, but if the two sides don’t reach an agreement within the next few weeks, it’ll have to wait until 2016. Panthers GM Dave Gettleman tells Bill Voth of the Black and Blue Review that he won’t negotiate extensions during the season: “Once the regular season begins, that’s it.”
Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link) believes there’s a good chance the Lions lock up linebacker DeAndre Levy to a new contract at some point before the season begins. According to Rapoport, Detroit views Levy as an “essential” piece.
One source tells Jason Cole of Bleacher Report that the way the Cowboys structured Dez Bryant‘s new contract to protect themselves is “brilliant.” However, Brandon George of the Dallas Morning News argues that Cole’s report overstates the concerns the Cowboys have about the star receiver’s off-field conduct.
Byron Maxwell‘s name usually doesn’t come up when NFL fans and observers debate the top cornerbacks in the league. But after the Eagles signed him to a deal that pays him like a top-five corner, Maxwell is confident that he can be in that mix, writes Zach Berman of the Philadelphia Inquirer.
Following New Orleans’ release of pass rusher Junior Galette, Bill Barnwell of Grantland examines the Saints‘ cap situation, openly wondering about Drew Brees‘ future with the franchise.

Jonathan Martin To Retire

July 27th, 2015 at 2:13pm CST by Luke Adams

Offensive lineman Jonathan Martin has decided to retire from the NFL, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter links). Rapoport reports that Martin has a back injury that would have required surgery sidelined him for the 2015 season, so he’s opting to walk away from his playing career instead.

Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports (Twitter link) classifies Martin’s departure from the league as “stepping away from football, at least for now,” which suggests he could return to the game at some point. 49ers offensive lineman Anthony Davis and Buccaneers cornerback C.J. Wilson are among the other players who have announced that sort of tentative retirement this summer.

Martin, who was at the center of the Dolphins’ bullying scandal in 2013, reportedly receiving verbal abuse from Richie Incognito and others, was sent to the 49ers in a trade in March 2014. Although he started nine games last season at right tackle for San Francisco, Martin wasn’t particularly effective, according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required). PFF graded Martin as a below-average run blocker and pass blocker, placing him 60th out of 84 qualified offensive tackles.

Martin was cut by the Niners and claimed by the Panthers earlier this year, and according to Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer (via Twitter), the 25-year-old was healthy during Carolina’s OTAs and June minicamp. Garafolo tweets that Martin’s back injury occurred during a recent workout, and he was told not to engage in any physical activity for at least six weeks.

If Martin doesn’t play another NFL game, he’ll finish his NFL career with 38 games (32 starts) on his résumé, for the Dolphins and 49ers.

NFL Open To Settlement For Tom Brady

July 27th, 2015 at 12:28pm CST by Luke Adams

A report last week indicated that the NFL Players Association made a settlement offer to the NFL regarding Tom Brady‘s suspension, and the league met that offer with “silence.” However, over the past several days, the NFL has been more open to the idea of a possible settlement for Brady, according to Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports, who reports that the league and the union have had an “open line of communication.”

Veteran Patriots players will report to training camp on Thursday, so the clock is ticking for resolution on Brady’s appeal. A source tells Garafolo that the Super Bowl MVP is frustrated with the lack of a decision from Goodell, nearly five weeks after the appeal hearing took place.

While a ruling from Goodell could come soon, a settlement would likely be the preferred outcome for both sides, since it would avoid prolonging the saga into the regular season with a court battle. However, it still appears unlikely that the two sides will reach a resolution that satisfies all parties — Brady figures to fight any penalty that includes him missing games, while the commissioner is reportedly receiving pressure from some owners to uphold the four-game suspension.

La Canfora On WR Extensions, Colts, JPP, Jets

July 27th, 2015 at 11:37am CST by Luke Adams

After addressing a few burning questions on DeflateGate, the Marcus Mariota contract negotiations, and Junior Galette‘s release, Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com takes a look around the rest of the NFL, passing along several noteworthy tidbits from all over the league. Let’s dive right in and check out a few of the highlights from La Canfora’s newest piece…

La Canfora expects both Julio Jones and A.J. Green to sign new deals before the 2015 season begins, and estimates that both deals will fall in the range of $13MM per year. I’m guessing that figure takes into account their current $10.176MM salaries for 2015, so the annual average of the new money would be closer to the $14MM per year that Dez Bryant and Demaryius Thomas received.
Several executives around the league believe that Andrew Luck‘s price tag may end up being so high that it puts the Colts in a bind with T.Y. Hilton. La Canfora thinks Hilton’s extension could come in at close to $12MM per year, and some observers aren’t convinced Indianapolis would go that high.
Jason Pierre-Paul and the Giants will likely come to terms on a one-year contract agreement that features per-game roster bonuses, says La Canfora, adding that New York also hopes to get something out of Will Beatty in the season’s second half.
La Canfora suggests that Muhammad Wilkerson and the Jets should consider working out a short-term extension – perhaps for two or three years – that gives the standout defensive lineman a nice chunk of guaranteed money and buys the team some time to make long-term decisions on Sheldon Richardson and Leonard Williams. Wilkerson would be “very open” to the idea, per La Canfora.
Some team executives around the league raised an eyebrow at the Steelers‘ big-money extension for Cameron Heyward. However, Pittsburgh likes Heyward more than a lot of clubs do and was willing to take a “calculated gamble” on his upside, writes La Canfora.

Seahawks, Dolphins, Lions Eye Ace Sanders

July 27th, 2015 at 10:22am CST by Luke Adams

After being cut earlier this month by the Jaguars, wide receiver and return man Ace Sanders went unclaimed on waivers last Monday, becoming a free agent. A week later, Sanders is still without a job, but he has received interest from several teams, including the Seahawks, Dolphins, and Lions, according to Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post.

Per Wilson, no deal is imminent yet for Sanders, with training camps around the corner. However, teams are looking into both his play on the field and his character off it. The former fourth-round pick served a four-game suspension for violating the league’s substance abuse policy during his time in Jacksonville.

Sanders, 23, had a decent rookie season in 2013, hauling in 51 balls, though he only averaged 9.5 yards per catch and reached the end zone just once. The South Carolina product wasn’t a major part of the Jaguars’ offense last season, after the team used multiple 2014 draft picks to add receiving help. He saw just seven targets in 2014, earning most of his playing time on special teams, where he returned 32 punts, averaging 7.1 yards per return.

If Sanders signs with Seattle, Miami, Detroit, or any other NFL team in the near future, he’ll likely have the opportunity to compete for a roster spot as a returner, a special-teamer, or a fourth or fifth receiver — or in some combination of those roles.